Bempton Cliffshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/atom.aspxTelligent Community 7.6.15.41145 (Build: 7.6.15.41145)2015-05-16T17:35:00ZFirst fluffy Fulmar chickshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/15/first-fluffy-fulmar-chicks.aspx2015-07-15T13:37:13Z2015-07-15T13:37:13Z<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1859.JPG"></a>Hello again,</p>
<p>Warning: This blog contains extremely adorable photos of Seabird chicks.</p>
<p>First Fulmar chick spotted!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1869.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1869.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>I was very excited about this, so I started looking for others.&nbsp;A few Fulmars looked like they were sitting on fluffy cushions.&nbsp;I had to wait a while&nbsp;until the adult fidgeted and a tiny face would appear out of the fluff.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1850.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1850.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Fulmars are understandably very protective over this vulnerable ball of fluff. The photo below shows this, when a very brave or silly Guillemot wonders&nbsp;a little too close:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1859.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1859.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>The Guillemot wisely backed away in the end.</p>
<p>Below is the fist one spotted again. With its parent doing a good job making sure nobody comes too close. Here you can see the white dot on the end of the chicks beak, this is its egg tooth, this helps it get its way out of the egg before falling off the beak.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1859.JPG"></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1853.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1853.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A little update on two other species: The Kittiwakes and Gannets.&nbsp;A few of the Kittiwake chicks have started to fledge. You can spot them fluttering close to the cliffs, learning how to get the hang of their wings. Despite some already fledging, there are still a lot that are not quite ready yet. As this photo below shows: Here there is a fledged Kittiwake above a younger Kittiwake still in the nest.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1865.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1865.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>The majority of the Gannet chicks are comically big now. Though a lot are still covered in&nbsp;incredible&nbsp;amounts of fluff, a few of them have their juvenile feathers coming through:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1843.JPG"><img width="477" height="508" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1843.JPG" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1845.JPG"><img width="531" height="509" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1845.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1845.JPG"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=775076&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspxSo much to learn...http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/15/so-much-to-learn.aspx2015-07-15T12:36:58Z2015-07-15T12:36:58Z<p>Welcome to a guest post from Mike - Seabird Research Assistant.</p>
<p>Hello all. At the end of last season my blog posting privileges expired and this season the team have been doing such a great job that I never felt the need to get them restored, until now.</p>
<p>One of my favourite things about the seabird work that we do here at Bempton is that there is still so much to learn. I was reminded of this most recently by Razorbill MA82 430.</p>
<p>On 2 July, as I was drinking much needed coffee and checking my emails after an early start with a seabird tagging team from the RSPB STAR project, a message flashed up from our indomitable Gannet monitoring volunteer Linda &ndash; she&rsquo;d spotted a colour ringed Razorbill at Breil Nook, Flamborough. Now there are a LOT of razorbills at Breil, but I thought I&rsquo;d keep an eye out for it just in case.</p>
<p>A few days later I bumped in to Linda out on the cliffs and she showed me exactly where she had seen the bird, but I still didn&rsquo;t have high hopes. Needles and haystacks kept running through my mind. Nonetheless, I continued to scan the area on my subsequent visits to Breil &ndash; I am there 4 days a week. And then on 7 July there it was &ndash; a Razorbill with a green ring above a metal ring on its left leg. I kept watching and saw a flash of red on the right leg. This was the bird! I kept on it, hoping to see the distinctive numbers or letters usually engraved on a colour ring so it can be read in the field. There were none. Instead I saw something even more interesting &ndash; a geolocator, a tiny tag designed to record where the bird is, attached to the red ring on the right leg. Curiouser and curiouser.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Ringed-RA.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Ringed-RA.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>I spent some more time scoping the bird and managed to read part of the number on the BTO metal ring, but that was it. An interesting (to me anyway) fact about the metal rings used on Razorbills (and Guillemots) are not actually rings, but are triangular. They are designed so that one side rests flat against the rock the birds frequent and that side has no writing on it. The rock wears away the writing on a traditional ring.</p>
<p>Now there are not that many people likely to have been fitting geolocators to Razorbills in the UK. So I emailed a contact who does seabird research on the Isle of May &ndash; who confirmed that the bird might well have been ringed there. But we would need the full BTO ring number to be sure. The following day, Sophia I were back at Breil, and so was the Razorbill &ndash; right in the same spot. We spent half an hour, as it started to rain, scoping the bird and agreed on the number &ndash; MA82 430. That afternoon I emailed my contact from the May who confirmed that the bird had been ringed there in July 2013. It would be great if we could catch the bird to get data off the geolocator, but it has cunningly chosen a spot where this isn&rsquo;t possible.</p>
<p>Since then I have seen the bird at the same spot a few more times, and suspect that it bred there. So we have an Isle of May bird which moved to Flamborough, or a Flamborough bird which checked out the May before deciding to breed here after all. How cool is that. And how many more Razorbills move colony or scout other colonies? And do Guillemots do the same thing? What about Puffins? There&rsquo;s still so much to discover about the life histories and ecology of our seabirds.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=775072&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspxDid you watch Springwatch at Easter?http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/14/did-you-watch-springwatch-at-easter.aspx2015-07-14T13:48:09Z2015-07-14T13:48:09Z<p>If you&#39;re a Bempton Cliffs fan, I&#39;m sure you tuned in to BBC 2&#39;s Springwatch at Easter programme to see both Chris Packham and Michaela Strachen smitten by our wildlife spectacle. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The show went out as &#39;live&#39; but was actually filmed here a couple of weeks prior to its screening on Good Friday - the first time a seabird colony had played host to the much-loved wildlife programme.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It wasn&#39;t long before Chris Packham was waxing lyrical about the cliffs - firstly by calling them the Nou Camp of the bird world. &nbsp;(For non-footie fans, that&#39;s Barcelona&#39;s home ground and has high, tiered seating - like the ledges on our cliffs that are lined by razorbills and guillemots during the season).&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew2_5F00_ycn.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew2_5F00_ycn.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Apart from filming on the cliff tops. site manger, Keith Clarkson, and Springwatch&#39;s Chris Packham took to the sea to get a different perspective on the colony. &nbsp; Looking up at the nest sites is as fascinating as looking down and boats can edge in quite close to the cliffs so you can almost come eye-to-eye with the seabirds.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew23_5F00_ycn.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew23_5F00_ycn.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>Our cliff edge viewpoints made the perfect settings for the background pieces to camera - here a cheeky gannet manages to get himself in on the act. &nbsp; Some seabirds will do anything to get on the telly!.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew6_5F00_ycn.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew6_5F00_ycn.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The infamous &#39;Bempton Breeze&#39; did us proud.&nbsp;(It&#39;s rarely not windy here - but then we are 400 feet up!) &nbsp;The techy team had to improvise with a light reflector to stop the sound of the wind drowning out Chris Packham&#39;s voice.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew12_5F00_ycn.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/ew12_5F00_ycn.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>We were especially delighted that one of our talented volunteers and gannet guru, Linda McKenzie, &nbsp;got a name check in the programme. (That&#39;s Linda, just in front of Mr Packham). &nbsp;She&#39;s been keeping a close eye on our 23,000 strong gannet colony for years and her expert advice is invaluable to us.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/3323.ew10_5F00_ycn.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/3323.ew10_5F00_ycn.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>Best bit of the 60 minute Bempton Cliffs&#39; special? &nbsp;So many to choose from - but I loved Chris Packham&#39;s description of the colony on Staple Newk as a confetti of gannets. It summed up the spectacle from the cliff top perfectly. &nbsp;Let us know your favourite moment in the comment box below. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10922518_5F00_817974164961871_5F00_122174430026844062_5F00_n.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10922518_5F00_817974164961871_5F00_122174430026844062_5F00_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=773877&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Maria Prchlikhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/MariaPrchlik/default.aspxRecent Sightings time!http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/11/recent-sightings-july.aspx2015-07-11T15:56:00Z2015-07-11T15:56:00Z<p><b>Puffins still around...but not for long</b></p>
<p>Red alert, red alert! The <strong>puffin</strong> breeding season is starting to come to an end, and if you haven&#39;t made a trip up here this season to see them, now is your last chance. There are still plenty around for now, with the best views still from Grandstand. But all the puffins and their chicks will be leaving the cliffs and heading out to sea for the winter within the next two weeks. Hopefully that will include the famous Grandstand puffling, although at the rate it&#39;s growing it&#39;s going to be a bit of a tight squeeze to climb out of that burrow.</p>
<p><b>Operation Owl Rescue</b></p>
<p>Anybody local to the area may have been woken up in the middle of the night by the storms on Sunday night, and it seems the wildlife had a bit of a tough time of it too. On the drive up to the centre, Sarah found this <strong>Little Owl</strong> on the side of the road, completely soaked through and obviously in a bad way. It got taken up to the centre, I went back down to the house to get my hairdryer, and Operation Owl Rescue began! He certainly looked in a bit of a sorry state to start with, but an hour of blow drying later and he started to look much more promising. What we originally thought was a chick that had been swept out of its nest, was actually a very bedraggled adult. It all ended well though, with this little guy being well enough to be released that evening.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150704_5F00_093036671.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150704_5F00_093036671.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>Before the blow dry</em></p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150704_5F00_104140151.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150704_5F00_104140151.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a><br /></em></p>
<p><em>And after!</em></p>
<p><b>Au revoir Swallow chicks!</b></p>
<p>Visitors on Monday 6<sup>th</sup> were in for a treat, as our<strong> swallow chicks</strong> finally started to fledge. They hung around a lot longer than we all thought they would, but finally they&rsquo;ve spread their wings and gone out into the big bad world. It was a bit of a wobbly start for most of them. Clearly realising they&rsquo;d made a terrible mistake, they were all seen desperately clinging to the wall of the centre, trying to climb back in to the nest. Yesterday (8th), there were two very stubborn chicks in the nest, still actually being fed by the adult. Don&rsquo;t think those two read the fledging handbook.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/HAHAH.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/HAHAH.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>The last cheeky two</em></p>
<p><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150623_5F00_231644.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150623_5F00_231644.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>And a quick flashback to a few weeks ago to this brilliant photo!</em></p>
<p><b>Fulmar vs. Puffin</b></p>
<p>On my Monday Puffin Patrol, I witnessed quite the show down between a fulmar and a puffin. Fulmars had been a bit thin on the ground (and air) that day, and so as we reached Jubilee Corner, I inwardly cheered that one was sat on a cliff ledge close to the platform. Rather oddly, there was a puffin perched very close by in front of its burrow. Fulmars are well known for not being very tolerant of their neighbours, spitting out foul smelling oil at anyone that gets too close.</p>
<p>We watched as the puffin flew off, and the fulmar pottered down to have a good nosey around the puffin&rsquo;s ledge.&nbsp; Suddenly, our puffin came swooping back in, <i>attacked</i> the fulmar, and won! The fulmar flew off, and tried to reclaim the ledge several times but was warded off by one very fearless puffin. Our brave little puffin then stood on the edge of the ledge, flapping his wings as if to say, &ldquo;this is my ledge, back off&rdquo;, then scuttled back down into his burrow. Never underestimate the tenacious spirit of a puffin!</p>
<p><b>Yellow wagtail</b></p>
<p>We had a rare spot at the far end of the reserve, out by the Wooden Puffin statue. A&nbsp;<strong>yellow wagtail&nbsp;</strong>was seen hopping around in the field by one of our visitors, David Clayton, who has very kindly sent through these fantastic photos.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/4186.Yellow_2B00_Wagtail_2B002800_3_2900_.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/4186.Yellow_2B00_Wagtail_2B002800_3_2900_.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>Strutting his stuff</em></p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Yellow_2B00_Wagtail.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Yellow_2B00_Wagtail.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a><br /></em></p>
<p><em>Spotted!</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>Laura</p>
<p>Visitor Experience Intern</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=775000&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxThe Bempton Bug Hunthttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/07/the-bempton-bug-hunt.aspx2015-07-07T10:12:48Z2015-07-07T10:12:48Z<p><em>Introducing a very special guest writer to the Bempton Cliffs blog. Gracie is officially the youngest volunteer in the RSPB, and has been helping out with running the weekly Bempton Bug Hunts. So without further ado, here she is to tell you all about her experiences!</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>The Bempton Bug Hunt</strong></span></p>
<p>When you go hunting for bugs you can use a bug pot or a pooter.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s a weird word &ldquo;pooter&rdquo;!&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a special thing you use to suck up bugs.&nbsp; At Bempton the bug pots we use can hold lots of bugs and with a magnifying glass on top, you can use it to see the bugs closer and identify them.&nbsp; Sometimes we use Jo&rsquo;s special microscope to really look close at them.</p>
<p>You do not put slugs, snails or worms into the pots because it makes them all gooey and the other bugs stick to the slime.</p>
<p>The best place to look for bugs is under the dry grass, but at Bempton they have a big bug hotel and lots of other cool places, like bug campsites and the bug B&amp;B, where you can find lots of mini-beasts.</p>
<p>You have to handle bugs gently or you might squash them.&nbsp; I love looking at mini-beasts, when you pick them up, they scuttle across your hands and that tickles a lot.</p>
<p>My mum calls me the millipede queen because I always find centipedes and millipedes on the bug hunt.&nbsp; I once found a stripey millipede with two orange stripes down its back.</p>
<p>Some of the things I&#39;ve found when working at Bempton are a drinker moth caterpillar, froghopper bug, millipedes, centipedes, a pill bug, woodlice, spiders, snails, slugs and tadpoles in the pond.&nbsp; One day Jo found a toad at the bug campsite, it was epic!!!</p>
<p>Bug hunting is very fun, I enjoy getting the fresh air, making friends with other children and discovering all the fun and excitable things at Bempton Cliffs</p>
<p>By Gracie (age 7)</p>
<p>Bempton Cliffs Volunteer</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/gracie.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/gracie.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774966&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxGreat nests and Greedy Skuashttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/02/great-nests-and-greedy-skuas.aspx2015-07-02T14:47:00Z2015-07-02T14:47:00Z<p>The chicks are sat with their mouths wide open and the adult Guillemots have their wings spread out on the cliffs in an attempt to cool down. I am down to only wearing 2 layers of clothing rather than 6 plus thermals. This can only mean one thing....Summer has finally arrived at Bempton!</p>
<p>The Guillemot and Razorbill chicks (otherwise known as Jumplings) have been jumping for a while. There are fewer and fewer of these birds on the cliffs. Before they all left we spent an evening at Grandstand Viewpoint at Bempton Cliffs Reserve with a spectacular sunset and some delicious pizza, watching the Jumplings jump. Whenever a chick looked like it was going near the edge to jump, there were shouts vaguely describing where it was to other people watching &quot;on that rock with that bit of rock sticking out&quot;. Most of the time the chick would ponder about it for a while. Meanwhile staring down your scope at this, you could hear other people muttering things&nbsp;from an encouraging&nbsp;&quot;come on, you can do it&quot;&nbsp;to an impatient&nbsp;&quot;oh just jump already!&quot;. Then it would ping off the cliff, some falling in style out from the cliff face&nbsp;and some falling directly down and hitting off&nbsp;the cliff, only to plop&nbsp;into the sea and pop up again next to its dad. followed by some relieved&nbsp;shouts of encouragement from us spectators.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Watching-Jumplings-_2D00_-Laura_2700_s-picture.jpg"><img width="495" height="869" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/Watching-Jumplings-_2D00_-Laura_2700_s-picture.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>Myself, the Visitor Experience Interns, the Seabird Researcher, and Masters student Ruth.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4201.jpg"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4201.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>Photo by: Ian Hopgood. Can you spot the chick?</em></p>
<p><em></em>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The seabird season has reached its peak and is fast coming to an end for the Guillemots and Razorbills. Although I&rsquo;m sure the chicks jumping from the cliff down into the sea far below are hoping it&rsquo;s only the beginning and not the end.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for some of these brave chicks who take the plunge it is the end (photo below). They jump at dusk going into nightfall to avoid predators&nbsp;and the father will accompany the chick out to sea to attempt to protect the chick from hungry Herring Gulls, juvenile Greater Black Backed Gulls and even a Great Skua.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4229.jpg"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4229.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0247.unnamed.jpg"></a></p>
<p><em>Photo by: Ian Hopgood. Great Skua eating a Guillemot Chick</em></p>
<p><em></em>&nbsp;</p>
<p>We have seen Great Skuas on several occasion at Bempton Reserve this year so far. I have seen them on two occasions and both times they have been feasting away. Once on a Guillemot chick (above) and the other time on a Kittiwake as shown below.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0247.unnamed.jpg"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0247.unnamed.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>Photo by: Tony Coombes. Great Skua eating a Kittiwake</em></p>
<p>To swiftly&nbsp;move onto a less gory topic. As&nbsp;I have spend nearly everyday since mid April staring at different cliff faces I have noticed some bizarre things when it comes to nesting Seabirds. At the start of my monitoring when the Gannets were bringing in nesting material. I saw building material&nbsp;being brought in ranging from lolly sticks to plastic wrapping. I then looked closer and noticed a significant amount of man made material made up the nest.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0955.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0955.JPG" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0945.JPG"><img width="548" height="849" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0945.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>Gannet nests which have created with a significant amount of rope and fishing line.</em></p>
<p>Kittiwakes build their nests out of vegetation and mud stamped down with a cup on top. If the nest has not disintegrated over the winter, then both adults will add onto last years nest when the breeding season comes around again. The nest you are about to see has survived for an unbelievable number of breeding seasons. We don&#39;t know how many years exactly but it is looking pretty precarious.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0768.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0768.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>The Leaning Tower of Kittiwake Nest</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, to finish off, I present to you a very confused Kittiwake. In May a Guillemot or Razorbill laid an egg in a Kittiwake nest. For one reason or another the Bird abandoned its egg and the Kittiwake won its nesting site. When the egg appeared, the Kittiwake padded around the nest, glancing at it with a very confused look. We thought it would kick it out of build over it. No, the second photo was taken over 5 weeks later! &nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/11.5-KI-on-RA-egg.JPG"><img width="536" height="401" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/11.5-KI-on-RA-egg.JPG" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Photo by: Michael Babcock. Taken on 11th of May&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/19.6-KI-on-same-RA-egg.JPG"><img width="530" height="398" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/19.6-KI-on-same-RA-egg.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo by: Michael Babcock. Taken on 19th of June</em>&nbsp;</p>
<p></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774918&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspxSwallow chickshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/07/02/swallow-chicks.aspx2015-07-02T12:47:00Z2015-07-02T12:47:00Z<p>Afternoon,</p>
<p>Time for a quick update on our resident swallows. We think the chicks are about 2 weeks old, and there are at least 5 of them in the nest, one of them being quite a lot smaller than the others. Swallow chicks fledge at around 17-24 days old, so they won&#39;t be here for that much longer! You can easily while away 5 minutes just watching the adults swooping up to the nest to feed them, and seeing their little faces popping up does not get any less cute.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3674.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3674.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><em>Check out their snazzy haircuts!</em></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3681.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3681.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><em>Feeding time</em></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3683.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_3683.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></em></p>
<p><em><br />&quot;What are you looking at?&quot;</em></p>
<p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><strong><em>All photos by Jo Allen</em></strong></p>
<p>-Laura</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774912&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxJune Sightingshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/25/june-sightings.aspx2015-06-25T16:49:00Z2015-06-25T16:49:00Z<p>If you&rsquo;re thinking of making a trip up here this month, you&rsquo;re making an excellent decision! June is probably the best month of the year to visit, as the cliffs are now full of chicks large enough to see with the naked eye. Over the noise of the kittiwakes and gannets, you can just about hear their cheeping sound all over the cliffs.</p>
<ul>
<li>Kittiwake chicks are growing and growing and can now be seen with the naked eye from most of the viewpoints. They are making for a very cute sight, especially when there are 2 or 3 chicks all squashed in together as one big grey fluffy ball.
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150625_5F00_173426_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150625_5F00_173426_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
</li>
<li>Gannet chicks can also be seen from most of the view points, but the best views are still from Staple Newk. Older chicks are looking much more gannet-like, with their long black bills starting to look pretty menacing.</li>
<li>The puffling has occasionally been seen in its burrow by lucky visitors at Grandstand. Puffins are also frequently seen close to the viewing platform at the entrance to the nest<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0250.pufflinggg.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0250.pufflinggg.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></li>
<li>The Guillemot chicks have been keeping us thoroughly entertained for the last few days. Many of them are now at the age where they are preparing to fledge, and can be seen waddling around their ledges flapping their wings in preparation. Although guillemot chicks tend to fledge at night, there have been several spotted bobbing on the sea in the early evening. Watch for long enough and you might even see &nbsp;one pinging off it&#39;s ledge into the sea to join it&#39;s parent.</li>
<li>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150625_5F00_173307_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150625_5F00_173307_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Other sightings</b></p>
<p>There was a flurry of excitement at the center earlier this week, as we got word that a group of 11 <b>Bee-Eaters</b> were seen flying over the headland towards Bempton Cliffs. Sure enough, many lucky visitors and volunteers caught a glimpse of them as they flew over the reserve. We&rsquo;ve also had several sightings of <b>Great Skuas</b> passing through during the past week. More often than not they&#39;ve been seen floating on the sea munching on a Kittiwake that got a bit too close.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4227.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/AB3J4227.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><b>Spotted flycatchers, reed buntings, corn buntings, linnets and whitethroats</b> have all been spotted in the surrounding grassland, and a <b>grey partridge</b> has again been seen on the nature trail. Our resident <b>barn owl</b> can still be seen hunting around the center in the early evening, and a <b>peregrine falcon </b>has been spotted more and more regularly hunting over Staple Newk. The <strong>swallows</strong> nesting next to the visitor center entrance now have either 3 or 4 chicks, and can often be seen being fed by one of the adults.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Laura</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774845&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxBempton Cliffs in versehttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/16/bempton-cliffs-in-verse.aspx2015-06-16T15:09:00Z2015-06-16T15:09:00Z<p>Who wouldn&rsquo;t be inspired to write a poem after a visit to Bempton Cliffs?</p>
<p>The dramatic white cliffs, the undulating coastline, not to mention the glorious seabird spectacle are enough to persuade even the most pragmatic amongst us to turn to rhyming couplets.</p>
<p>Thank goodness then for &nbsp;the Bridlington Poetry Festival which gave us the opportunity to encourage visitors to put their thoughts about the reserve down on paper</p>
<p>To spare the blushes of our more mature visitors, we thought we&#39;d start whipping up some enthusiasm for verse amongst our younger visitors - &nbsp;so enter James Giddings, a poet with not only a way with words but a way with kids.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10151812_5F00_854421761317111_5F00_1700585147333738406_5F00_n.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10151812_5F00_854421761317111_5F00_1700585147333738406_5F00_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>He held a drop-in workshop on Saturday and had lots of tricks up his sleeve to persuade the youngsters to express themselves. &nbsp; He kicked things off with some three line Japanese haiku poems. &nbsp;The best way to explain these is to show you an example - &nbsp;like this from a master of the form, Basho Matsuo, who wrote in the 1600s:</p>
<p>An old silent pond,</p>
<p>A frog jumps into the pond,</p>
<p>Splash! &nbsp;Silence again.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The kids were keen to have a go and they did a grand job - below is Ruby&#39;s brilliant effort on the subject of puffins:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/1375742_5F00_854422277983726_5F00_3416134384970255554_5F00_n.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/1375742_5F00_854422277983726_5F00_3416134384970255554_5F00_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>Before you could say William Wordsworth, the kids had moved on to the &#39;Erasure&#39; exercise (which sadly had nothing to do with the hit making 80s pop-duo). &nbsp; This cleverly involved turning a piece of pre-written prose into a poem by blocking out words. &nbsp;It kind of made you see poetry in everything, which is no bad way to view the world in my opinion. &nbsp;</p>
<p>We were delighted to have hosted an event as part of this well-established festival and to welcome so many budding poets to the cliffs. &nbsp; And James&rsquo; view of the day?&nbsp;&nbsp; Naturally, he put it in a poetic form:</p>
<p>&lsquo;The mist didn&rsquo;t lift</p>
<p>but we did lots of haiku.&rsquo;</p>
<p>Finally, here&#39;s one for the album...and hopefully the local press. &nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/SAM_5F00_7744-_2800_2_2900_.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x400/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/SAM_5F00_7744-_2800_2_2900_.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774733&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Maria Prchlikhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/MariaPrchlik/default.aspxSeabird Cruise Adventurehttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/13/seabird-cruise-adventure.aspx2015-06-13T14:18:20Z2015-06-13T14:18:20Z<p>Hello!</p>
<p>A few weeks ago, Becky and I were lucky enough to be invited along on one of the Puffin and Gannet Cruises run by the RSPB, and I thought I&rsquo;d write a post telling you about our mini adventure.</p>
<p>After working up at the centre for the morning, we drove into Bridlington and made our way down to the harbour, quite enjoying feeling like tourists for a change. We&rsquo;d been advised to wear as many layers as physically possible, so we must have made quite a sight walking along the sea front in glorious sunshine wearing woolly hats, gloves and waterproofs. Keeping with the whole tourist theme we considered grabbing some fish and chips on the way, but sensibly decided to go for a healthy option. Lemon and strawberry ice cream counts as fruit, right?</p>
<p>On board the Yorkshire Belle, we made a beeline for the prime viewing location, up at the front on the left hand side. With binoculars cleaned and adjusted, waterproofs at maximum effect and bobble hat securely in position, I was ready to go. As we left the harbour, Keith began by telling us the route we would be taking, and about the birds we were likely to spot. The sea was lovely and calm and the sun was shining, all the way up to Flamborough Head, when the waves did begin to pick up a little. Though to be honest, it really did add to the dramatic effect of sailing around the headland and seeing all 400ft of white chalk cliffs suddenly appear towering above the sea. Standing at the bow of the boat with the wind in my hair, I will admit to having a bit of a Jack Sparrow/master of the sea moment. But the illusion was slightly ruined by suddenly getting drenched by sea spray and having to sit back down to frantically clean my glasses. The sea can indeed be a cruel mistress.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010348.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010348.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>As we came around the headland, waving to the people at the lighthouse, the sea calmed down once more and we sailed right up to the cliffs, stopping off at different points to get a good close up look at some of the birds nesting there. Seeing the cliffs from this totally different perspective really gives a feel for the sheer scale of this amazing site, and the number of birds that make their home here. There are some stunning rock formations along the cliffs, again only visible from the water, and the brilliant RSPB volunteers were always on hand to explain how they had all formed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010349.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010349.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>We had birds flying all around the boat, mainly kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, and the odd gannet soaring low overhead, making that 6ft wing span much easier to believe in. One of my personal highlights was watching the guillemots frantically splashing about in the waves in their less than graceful attempts to take off from the water. I was also pretty chuffed at getting to see the shags nesting at the very bottom of the cliffs, having never really seen them from the viewpoints.</p>
<p>As we turned around to head back to the harbour, stopping off at a few more points near the cliffs along the way, we finally got our first views of puffins! Easily spotted on the water thanks to their bright orange bills, they comically splashed away from the boat as we came near. You wonder how something so small manages to survive, just bobbing up and down far out to sea for the majority of its life. After all the excitement of the puffins, it was time for a sit down and a hot chocolate from the bar as we sailed back into Bridlington harbour.</p>
<p>I had such a fantastic day, and I can&#39;t recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to get a truly unique perspective of this very special place.</p>
<p>The cruises run until mid-July and booking is essential.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-388181">Click here for all the details</a></p>
<p>Laura</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774699&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxRecent Sightingshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/06/recent-sightings.aspx2015-06-06T10:02:32Z2015-06-06T10:02:32Z<p>It has been very exciting here over the last couple of weeks. The birds are well and truly into the breeding season with new chicks appearing every day! Gannet, Kittiwake, Razorbill and lots of Guillemot chicks can be seen from our view points, and we have even had a couple of incredibly rare Puffling sightings!</p>
<p>The other morning one of our volunteers saw a <b>Barn owl</b> disappear into the grass, then re appear with breakfast in its talons, only to have a <b>Kestrel</b> arrive a few seconds later in the hope of pinching the owls catch. As far as we are aware the owl won and went off to enjoy their hard earned meal in peace.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/barn.png"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/barn.png" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>(Photo by Chrys Mellor)</em></p>
<p>This time of year is also great to see the younger <b>Gannets</b> hanging around in a &lsquo;club&rsquo; hoping to find themselves a mate and a nest. When leaving the nest a Gannet chick is almost completely covered in dark feathers. It is not until they are 5 years old that their plumage is that of an adult. Because of this it is fairly easy for us to have a guess at the age of a gannet by how many dark feather it has. Below is a picture of a couple of what we think are 3 year old gannets.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0172.barn.png"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/0172.barn.png" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>(Photo by Sophia Jackson)</em></p>
<p>There are now <b>Gannet chicks</b> to be seen all over the place! Just this morning I saw chicks from Staple, Bartlett and Jubilee. Below is a lovely picture sent in by a visitor last week of a very fluffy relaxed looking chick.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/3833.barn.png"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/3833.barn.png" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>(Photo by Ruth Wilson)</em></p>
<p><b>Guillemot chicks</b> are also here there and everywhere, and can be seen when the adult is shuffling around or when they change over. Here is a picture of a chick we believe to be around 2 weeks old.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/2804.barn.png"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/2804.barn.png" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><b>Kittiwake chicks</b> are also starting to appear; they are all quite small at the moment but can be seen from most of the viewpoints with a little patience.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/1586.barn.png"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/1586.barn.png" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em>(Photo by Sophia Jackson)</em></p>
<p>In the last recent sightings blog we mentioned that we thought puffins were incubating eggs. On Sunday 31<sup>st</sup> May the first <b>Puffling</b> sighting of the year was witnessed by a few very excitable volunteers and visitors! It is very rare to get a glimpse of these little chicks and even more so to get footage! A very patient visitor spent a lot of time early in the morning over several days waiting to capture this lovely moment between the adult and the chick. Thanks to Eric Beagle for kindly letting us have this great video. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RSPBnorthyorksandeastriding/videos/848318115260809/" title="Click here" target="_blank">Click here to check it out on our Facebook page</a></p>
<p>There was also a lot of excitement yesterday morning, when a pod of 15 bottlenose dolphins were spotted making their way South. They appeared to make a brief stop not far from Staple Newk, where they looked to be feeding before continuing on their way.</p>
<p>Along the nature trail there are few Drinker moths around, and we&rsquo;ve seen lots of Garden Tiger Moths, Rivulet Moths and a couple sightings of Red Admiral and Large White butterflies.</p>
<p>Other sightings over the last couple of weeks include:</p>
<p>Spotted Flycatcher (28<sup>th</sup> May)</p>
<p>Barnacle Goose (31<sup>st</sup> May)</p>
<p>Great Skua (1<sup>st</sup> &ndash; 4<sup>th</sup> June)</p>
<p>Heron (1st May)</p>
<p>Oyster catch X 4 (1<sup>st</sup> June)</p>
<p>Glaucous Gull (5<sup>th</sup> June)</p>
<p></p>
<p>-- Becky --</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774616&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Laura - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/LauraSL/default.aspxCountryfile came to visithttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/05/countryfile-came-to-visit.aspx2015-06-05T22:05:00Z2015-06-05T22:05:00Z<p>We had a very exciting day yesterday. Countryfile came to do some filming and I had the pleasure of going out on the boat with Ellie Harrison and the crew, joined by Keith Clarkson, Mike Babcock and Steve Race. we couldn&#39;t have had more perfect conditions.&nbsp;It was a first for me seeing the dramatic cliffs from the water. Would you believe it, they look even bigger from down there!</p>
<p>To get some good shots of Gannets feeding, fish were thrown off the side of the boat.</p>
<p>First some Fulmars and Herring Gulls, then a few Gannets, after a minute or so we were utterly engulfed by Gannets! So many you had to shout to be heard over their calls. The film crew were amazed by this, their reaction was incredible.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1327.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1327.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Ellie practicing her photography skills</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040052.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040052.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1325.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1325.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Everywhere you looked there were Gannets. It is a miracle nobody got pooped on!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1332.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1332.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>The Gannets were diving meters away from us. Countryfile will have some excellent footage, its definitely not one to be missed.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040035.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040035.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>The Skipper&#39;s dog was even enjoying the spectacle</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040027.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P6040027.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>5 buckets of fish had been consumed by the Gannets. This one was peering down to see if there was anything else.</p>
<p>This boat trip was phenomenal. Judging by the way the crew reacted I can assume they felt the same way. Expect some epic shots on you TV soon from Bempton.</p>
<p>Sophia</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774613&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspxHaving a chick-tastic time!http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/06/05/having-a-chick-tastic-time.aspx2015-06-05T21:40:00Z2015-06-05T21:40:00Z<p>Seabird monitoring research residential volunteer here again.</p>
<p>Its&nbsp;absolutely chick-tastic here at Bempton and Flamborough!</p>
<p>For every new species of chick I saw I swiftly changed my mind as to&nbsp;which one I thought was cutest. I have come to terms with the fact they are all equally adorable. However Guillemot chicks (Jumplings) are definitely up there for me. It&nbsp;is all very exciting when the chicks are hatching. However once you&nbsp;see two adult razorbills fighting and their chick&nbsp;get&nbsp;accidentally&nbsp;kicked off the cliff to have the fate of being Herring Gull food. I quickly learnt not to get attached in any way. Although&nbsp;I&nbsp;am still relieved when the chicks&nbsp;I monitor are still there when I return every few days. &nbsp;</p>
<p>There are plenty of Guillemot chicks bumbling along the cliff faces if you keep an eye out.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1124.JPG"><img width="436" height="431" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1124.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1126.JPG"><img width="425" height="431" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1126.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1126.JPG"></a></p>
<p>Sometimes all I will see is a little leg poking out to the side (as above).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/unnamed.jpg"><img width="473" height="641" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/unnamed.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1259.JPG"></a></p>
<p>The Kittiwake chicks are just starting to hatch at Bempton. This little one was spotted from the viewpoint Grandstand (above)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1080-_2800_2_2900_.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1080-_2800_2_2900_.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>I know the Herring Gulls are not&nbsp;everyone&#39;s&nbsp;favorite&nbsp;seabird. But they are excellent parents, very protective and these parents don&#39;t seem to regurgitate solid chips for their young like the ones on Spring Watch this year.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10985408_5F00_10155570769370655_5F00_264185806841715945_5F00_n.jpg"><img width="492" height="389" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/10985408_5F00_10155570769370655_5F00_264185806841715945_5F00_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1309.JPG"><img width="532" height="389" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1309.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Above are two photos of the same Razorbill chick&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;2&nbsp;weeks later. From looking like a children&#39;s toy to a messy mini Razorbill in such a short time frame.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1205.JPG"><img width="475" height="469" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1205.JPG" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1215.JPG"><img width="461" height="470" alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1215.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>It has been said many times that the Gannet chicks are so ugly that they are cute. I think its more like the&nbsp;story about the ugly duckling. Gannet chicks are easily visible on the reserve. Every time I go back to do my weekly Gannet plot at Jubilee viewpoint&nbsp;I am still surprised at how fast the chicks grow!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0961.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0961.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Above you can spot a Guillemot incubating its turquoise egg, seemingly watching the Gannet nervously. This is with good reason. The Gannet numbers at Bempton are increasing dramatically, this is great news! But not for a few unlucky Guillemots. I have witnessed a Gannet stroll along a ledge with 3 Guillemots incubating on, and boisterously stroll over and knock them all off. This happened to the Guillemot shown, thankfully it was early enough in the season for the Guillemot to re-lay.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1235.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1235.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>I had a day out on the cliffs recently monitoring where it rained constantly, with decent winds, and even hail all in one day!</p>
<p>I got back to the house sodden and the sun came out to show this beautiful double rainbow.</p>
<p>I have begun counting plots of seabirds now too, so it really is all go here on the seabird research front now!</p>
<p>I&#39;ll have another update soon,</p>
<p>Sophia</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1215.JPG"></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_1215.JPG"></a>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774612&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspxRecent Sightings for Mayhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/05/22/recent-sightings-for-may.aspx2015-05-22T17:31:18Z2015-05-22T17:31:18Z<p>Hello there,</p>
<p><b>Fun on the Bank Holiday Weekend</b></p>
<p>We kicked off the month with a bit of a cold wet start to the Bank Holiday Weekend. But once the sun decided to come out, so did our lovely visitors, with Bank Holiday Monday being declared the busiest day in Bempton Cliffs&rsquo; history. Although the puffins were a little elusive that day, we had lots of families enjoying our events and guided walks throughout the weekend.</p>
<p><b>Quick updates on the usual suspects</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Many puffins are now incubating eggs in their chosen nest chamber inside the cliffs, often appearing to head out to sea to fish or to swap incubation duty with their partner. They can be best seen flying to and from the cliffs at the Grandstand, Mosey Downgate and Bartlett Nab viewpoints<b></b></li>
<li>More and more gannet chicks are beginning to hatch, mainly at Staple Newk but one has now been spotted at Jubilee Corner</li>
<li>The kittiwakes are now well into nest building, with large numbers regularly flying back and forth over the footpath to gather nesting material, making for an impressive sight</li>
<li>The first guillemot chicks have now been spotted at Flamborough Head, and<strong> the first chick at Bempton was spotted on the 21st</strong> from Jubilee Corner. Take a look at Sophia&rsquo;s latest post to see some very cute pictures</li>
<li>After heading out to sea for the past week, the fulmars have now returned and are being seen regularly, with the first egg spotted on the 21<sup>st</sup> May</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Return of the swallows</b></p>
<p>Visitors to the old centre may remember the pair of swallows that nested in the roof last summer. We were concerned for a while that the disruption of building the new centre would put off any new breeding pairs. But I&rsquo;m happy to announce that we have a nesting pair once again, this time in their very own fancy swallow nesting box at the entrance to the centre. The first signs of life in the box were spotted on the 9<sup>th</sup> May, when we arrived at the centre to find a present of swallow droppings underneath the box. Lovely.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150520_5F00_155043260_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150520_5F00_155043260_5B00_1_5D00_.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><b><em>You can just make out the swallow on the nest</em><br /></b></p>
<p><b><em><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150520_5F00_155029003_5F00_HDR.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150520_5F00_155029003_5F00_HDR.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a><br /></em></b></p>
<p><b><em>The daily droppings corner underneath the box</em></b></p>
<p><b>Update on Nest 33 at 4 weeks</b></p>
<p>The first chick of the year is now 4 weeks old, and has grown massively over such a short space of time. It can be easily seen on the live camera, admittedly looking a bit squashed now that it is beginning to outgrow the nest space.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150522_5F00_112605389.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_20150522_5F00_112605389.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p><em><strong></strong><strong>Bit of a cheats picture of Nest 33 on the live feed screen</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><br /></strong></em><strong>The reserve after closing time</strong></p>
<p>Earlier this week, Becky, Sophia and I went for a walk up to the reserve to try and get some great pictures for this blog. Although my little digital camera wasn&#39;t quite up the job of zooming right in on the nesting birds, I did manage to get this snap of our resident barn owl. As we walked along the path, this cheeky chappy would fly from post to post, looking particularly spectacular among all the campion.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/owl.jpg"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/owl.jpg" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p>
<p>And I&#39;ll finish with this lovely shot of the sun setting over Jubilee Corner. The reserve is almost a different place in the evening, and now with the lengthening days I can&#39;&#39;t recommend enough a trip up here once the sun begins to go down.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading!</p>
<p>Laura</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010370.JPG"><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/P1010370.JPG" border="0" alt=" " /></a></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774410&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Rebecca Blackman - Visitor Experience Internhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/RebeccaB/default.aspxFirst Guillemot and Razorbill chickshttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/bemptoncliffs/b/bemptoncliffs-blog/archive/2015/05/16/first-guillemot-and-razorbill-chicks.aspx2015-05-16T16:35:00Z2015-05-16T16:35:00Z<p>So today we spotted our first&nbsp;four&nbsp;Guillemot chicks, along with our first Razorbill chick! These were spotted at Flamborough Head.</p>
<p>However this means we should be expecting little balls of fluff on the cliffs at Bempton very soon. So keep an eye out!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0858.JPG"></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0859.JPG"></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>An iPhone was all we had handy. However here are some photos of one of the first Guillemot chicks spotted this Summer</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0859.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0859.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0859.JPG"></a></p>
<p>Above: The chick is partially behind the adults wing</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0858.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0858.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In other chick news: The first Gannet chick (as many may already know) hatched at Staple viewpoint over 2 weeks ago now. And there have been a couple more spotted there since then.</p>
<p>However I have a Gannet plot to monitor at Jubilee viewpoint at Bempton Reserve and&nbsp;yesterday I found my first Gannet chick at this view point. So they are hatching&nbsp;along the lengths of the&nbsp;cliffs now.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0799.JPG"><img alt=" " src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-22-08/IMG_5F00_0799.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Above: One of the first Gannet chicks at Jubilee Viewpoint.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=774321&AppID=12208&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">Sophia Jackson - Seabird Researcher Resi Volhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/members/sophiaJ/default.aspx